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Favorite Things: Heidi Shaffer's favorite women on TV

FARGO – There’s a fresh new crop of strong, leading ladies on TV lately.

It’s seems that Hollywood is getting the picture that women can carry a show instead of just providing a supporting role. From drama to comedy, each woman brings a unique, female presence to your living room.

1. Peggy Olson on “Mad Men”

Peggy, played by actress Elizabeth Moss, embodies what every working woman of the 1960s was probably thinking. She speaks her mind and doesn’t shrink into the background on this mostly male-dominated cast.

2. Carrie Bradshaw on “Sex and the City”

This on seems a bit clichéd at this point in pop culture, but no leading lady list would be complete without Carrie, one of the most relatable women in television history.

3. Mary Crawley on “Downton Abbey”

Mary, the oldest daughter in a wealthy British family, is another example of a woman standing up for herself in a repressed time. While Mary (played by Michelle Dockery) often comes off across as shallow, her feisty personality offsets some of her less desirable qualities.

4. Jess Day on “New Girl”

I hear your collective groan over Jess’ sometimes too-cute quirkiness. But Zooey Deschanel’s character (above, center) is the lead comedic presence in an otherwise dull world of sitcoms.

5. Kristen Wiig on “SNL”

Wiig leaves behind her hilarious hijinks on “SNL,” but I see a funny future for the comedienne.

6. Entire cast of “Golden Girls”

This throwback sitcom taught women everywhere the importance of female friendships and that there’s nothing to fear about aging. Thank you for being a friend, Dorothy, Blanche, Rose and Sophia.

Editor’s note: SheSays Favorites is a weekly feature in SheSays that runs each Monday. SheSays staffers will gather a few of their favorite things to share with readers. Do you have a favorite you’d like to share? Email shesays@forumcomm.com.